MAM
Z3 ties up with Talenthouse to crowdsource its creative campaign idea
MUMBAI: Zodiac Clothing’s casual wear brand Z3 has partnered with creative crowd sourcing platform Talenthouse India for the second time to design the first look for the brand’s next creative campaign.
The winning entry might get the opportunity to be featured across print and outdoor for one of the brand’s communication campaigns.
Previously, Zodiac Clothing partnered with Talenthouse to hunt for a male model which was a huge success for the brand. Z3, which was launched in 2008, has the tagline “Relaxed Luxury” that talks about the brand promise.
Z3 VP marketing Imraan Surve said, “We believe that getting the consumers involved in branding and strategizing for Z3 gives the brand a wider scope for visibility, appreciation and growth. After seeing the quality of entries received in our earlier partnership with Talenthouse India for our brand ZOD!, we are confident to see some fantastic campaign ideas soon.”
Talenthouse CEO Arun Mehra said, “Creative crowdsourcing is a revolutionary breakthrough the world over but is currently in its nascent stage in India. Even several advertising agencies have begun to embrace crowdsourcing platforms.”
The jury will choose the winner from all qualified submissions with special consideration for the top voted entries. The winner will receive a grand prize of Rs 125,000 and his entry could be featured as the next creative campaign for Z3. There are also a first Runner-up and Popular Choice winner who will receive Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively.
Talenthouse India has a community of approx. 35,000 creative artists and wants to use this partnership to explore cracking advertising & branding ideas through crowdsourcing.
The creative invite is open to anybody and everybody with a creative bent of mind who can visually depict it. The entries will be judged by Z3marketing manager Karan Shetty, Draft FCB creative director Haresh Moorjani and Mehra.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
